Improvement in lumber-drying kilns



2 Sheets--Sheet1. l

`H. Lumber Drying-kilns.

E. W EL LS.

Pateted lune 9,1874.

UNITED .STATES HORACE E. WELLS, OF VAN YVERT, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN LuMBER-DHRVING KILNs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 51,734, dated June 9, 187,4; application led v May 13, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE E. WELLS, Van Wert, in the countyof v Van Wert and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lumber Dry-Kilns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and correct description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the cars arranged for switching; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the kiln on the line y y of Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a longitudinal horizontal section ofthe same on the line w .fr of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a vertical section of the heating-room, enlarged, on the line y y, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a horizontal section of a portion of the heating-room on the line z z of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation of the end of the kiln at the ventilating-chimneys witha portion broken away.

The object of my'invention is to save time and labor in introducing and removing the lumber from the kiln, and at the same time to thoroughly dry it. It consists in arranging the rooms on nearly the same plane, with the drying-room in the middle, the steaming-room at one end, and the heating-room at or near the other; also, in the vertical arrangement of tiers of A, steam-pipes with a series of alternating projecting partitions in the heatingroom, and so connecting the heating with the drying room that the heated air shall pass through the latter longitudinally and in a direction opposite to that in which the loaded cars are moved; also, in the use of railways through and about the steam and drying rooms,'so arranged in connection with switch and lumber cars that the lumber may be steamed and dried on` the same car without handling; also, in providing the steam and drying rooms with diagonal ways, and sliding doors suspended thereon, and in the employment of certain other devices in and about the kiln,as hereinafter described. The;heating, drying, and steaming rooms may be constructed of any desired size, and in about the relative proportions shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A represents the kiln, and B the drying. room, which may be divided into two or more chambers, C D, separated by a partition, as shown in Fig. 3. It is connected at one end to the heating-room Il by an open passage, N, as shown in Fig. 2,l or it may be by other or morepdirect passages, as hereinafter explained. When the drying-room is made to consist of several chambers there is a passageway for each. lhe passage-ways, whether one or more, are provided with a damper, c, as shown in said Fig. 2, to check or cut oli' the current of heated air when desired, or to turn it all into one chamber. At the opposite end of the drying-room are the Ventilatingchimneys U, provided with an elbow, i, and suitable receptacle, Z, as shown in Fig. 6, to prevent the return of any inoisture that may be condensed in the chimneys.` When thedrying-room is divided into several chambers each is provided with a chimney, as shown. At either end are diagonal ways m, upon which are suspended doors llt-and g, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, so as to slide diagonally.

E is the steaming-room at one end of, and on the same plane with, the drying-room. It may be divided into 'the samev num ber of chambers, separated by a partition, as there are in the drying-room, and of' corresponding width. It is also provided with diagonal ways, on which are suspended sliding doors f. This manner of arranging the doors allows the lower ends to be swung out a little, in case of any jamming, caused by their swelling, and causes them to run diagonally and more easily and freely. The steam is introduced through a small pipe, c, as shown in Fig. 2. The diagonal ways m are at the proper height to permit the loadedlumber-cars to pass under them, ,and are on the same horizontal plane. Those for inclosing the steaming-room are a little diagonal to 011e another, as well as to those on the end of the drying-room, as shown in Fig. 3. Theirv position causes the doors to run diagonally, and thus to be4 moved conveniently, and, when`in position for closing the steaming-room, to be easily clamped or wedged tight. His the heating-room, located at or near the end ofthe drying-room opposite to that of the steaming-room, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, instead of' under it, as is usually done, so as to permit the drying and steaming rooms to be low down for convenience in running cars through them, as hereinafter explained. Steam-pipes P are arranged within it in verti- PA'rENr OFFIGE.

cal tiers, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to give a large quantity of heating-surface, and be accessible at all times for cleaning or repairs, together with a series of partitions, I, extending alternately part way from the top and bottom of the room, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, to compel the air entering a door, a, opening out-ward, Fig. 4, to take the course shown by the arrows in the saine figure, and thus be brought in contact with the pipes. The inlet for the steam is at K, and the outlet at J. Then live steam is used, a valvebox is placed at J to hold back the steam, and let the water condensed from the steam escape; but when exhaust steam is used, it escapes freely at J. The air, after being heated by the pipes, passes through the passage N into the drying-room, and is turned down by a cloth curtain, d, and is then drawn bythe ventilating-chimneys through the drying-room. Through the steaming and drying rooms a railway-track, R, is laid. When these rooms are divided into chambers, a track. is laid through each chamber. Outside of these rooms is laid a railway-track, S, on the same level with those in the rooms, and also tracks and T at right angles to the tracks B and S, but on a lower bed, as shown at Fig. 2, for the switch-car. L is one of the switch-cars with railway-track. They are of such height that when upon tracks O or T, and opposite the tracks It or S, its rails will be in line with them, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Mis a lumber-car to run upon the switch-car, and also upon the tracks It and S, and any number ot' cars desired may be used. The lumber to be dried is loaded on the car M, and then moved by means of the switch-car opposite the track It, and run into the steaming-room E, the doors of which are then tightly closed, and the steam let in. Then the lumber is suiciently steamed, the car is run through into the drying-room through the doors h. Here the lumber comes in contact with a strong current of heated air passing through the drying-room in the direction opposite to that in which the car is moved. This air rapidly absorbs the moisture from the lumber, and passes out through the ventilating-chimneys yu, as clearly shown in Fig-2. 'V hen the lumber is suficiently dried, the car is run through the doors g onto another switch-car standing on the track O, and then moved by the switch-car, when desired, and unloaded. The lumber-car is then returned over the track S to the switch-car on the track T, when it can be again'loaded and passedon through the steaming and drying rooms, as before.

In the drawings, an open passage-way is shown between the heating and drying rooms, with doors on the endof the latter for the passage of the cars, and with the opening for the hot air over this passage; but it is obvious that these rooms may be adjoining, with doors on the sides of the drying-room for the cars to pass through, and that then the heated air can belet into the dryingrooni directly, or in any desired manner.

A dry-kiln may be constructed after this plan, with any number of steaming and drying rooms desired, by placing them side by side, and providing them with railway-tracks, and that the dryingrooms may be kept iilled with loaded lumbercars, to be removed as deA sired.

When the lumber is dried, the cars may be run onto the track S, and kept there in a room inclosing the track, as shown in Fig. 6, until Wanted.

Having thus described nl y'invention, what I claim is 1. A kiln for drying lumber, consisting of' a drying-room, B, with the separate heatin g-room I-I at one end, and a steaming-room, E, at the other, constructed as described, and arranged on nearly the same plane, as and for the pur# pose set forth.

2. In combination with the drying-room B, the heating-room H, constructed near one en'd ot' the same, and provided with vertical tiers of steam-pipes P and alternating partitions I, arranged substantially as andvfor the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the steamingroom E and drying-room B, provided with railway tracks, as described, the switching-cars L and switching tracks O, T, and S, constructed and arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with the drying-room B, provided with sliding doors g and li for the passage of the cars, the steaming-room E, provided with the diagonal ways M and sliding doors f, as and for the purpose set forth.

'lhe above specification ot' said invention signed and witnessed, at Van WVert', this 20th day of April, A. I). 1874.

HORACE E. MTELLS.

fitnesses GEO. E. WELLS', L. S. ALBEN. 

